The Mobile Visual Environment

In todays class we discussed how the digital world was effecting our everyday lifestyles.

With the constant change in technology and the constant flow of new and exciting ways we are given to socialise on the web it's a fact that is going to have an impact on the way we function with everyday life.

We talked about how the everchanging technology effects big companies and TV shows and film such as Thunderbirds. The Thunderbirds brand is hugely famous and the more shows/ films and merchandise they have available the more money they are making. People are paying for the brand.

The same with Doctor Who people surround themselves with the brand that millions was spent on creating, and effectively pay back the money by buying the brand merchandise, box sets and watching the shows on TV or online. So it must be worth spending millions on creating a brand if enough of the public are interested in it to indulge on it.

This is all a reflection on the development of technology.

With the creation of the mobile phone in the 1940's came a huge market with the potential to make millions.

The first text ever sent was in December 1992 and it said “Merry Christmas”. Now today it has progressed massively with 30% of teenagers in USA sending more than 100 texts a day. To think how many new styles and more intelligent designs of mobile phones our generation has seen is crazy, it just goes to show you how constant the change in technology really is and how far its come since the mobile was first invented. Nowadays you can do pretty much anything on your mobile phone, and being able to access the internet on your phone is a big advantage in the modern world, it can aid you with work by accessing e-mails and getting onto search sites on the web and with your social life with all of the social networking sites you have access to. Another advantage with internet access is that your are able to download and upload almost instantly whilst on the go. Mobile internet is a huge success and has become a normal routine in many peoples lives. The industries are making a fortune from our use of our mobiles, with the different contracts and bolt ons available today there are numerous amounts of deals you can choose from to get the most out of your mobile. I know I for one would struggle to survive without my mobile on me at all times and I don't know anyone who could, if we were left without the ability to contact others through, text, call, and e-mail its as if we've been deserted in society its because of attitudes like this the industries are kept going making their millions.

Mobility changes everything and being able to have all of this technology with you in just your mobile phone has made life a lot simpler.

Mobile phone companies are in competition all of the time trying to out do each other with the latest in technology trying to get the best they possibly can on the market for the consumer, trying to make the most money, Blackberry and Iphone were a constant rival trying to get the better phone and where Blackberry used to have the advantage with their instant messaging BBM they no longer have it because Iphone has now got peer to peer messaging. Now Nokia has brought out new smartphones with touch screens to rival the two, its a constant battle between phone companies to be the best.

The internet is another everyday technology we would be lost without even simple tasks like completing an essay or research on a new project, the internet is an essential source of information that we need to complete theses tasks. Other than using the internet for work purposes we use it for social aspects aswell, with all the social networks available to us today such as Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and Myspace and E-mail we would lose contact with most of the people we know. Today it goes beyond a simple phonecall or a text to organise something, most people relay on these types of social networks to keep in contact with people in their lives. Its like were living in a virtual reality, something isn’t real unless there is something to back up that it actually happened for example, a night out with friends doesn’t feel like it existed unless its documented with countless photos uploaded onto facebook, this suggests that we have began living our lives through some sort of simulacra, not living what is actually real but living what is real only in this virtual world that we have created like a copy but only seen as our ideal life in a way. It becomes harder to judge a person as who they are because it has become increasingly difficult to get to know the real person and not just their alter ego on these sort of sights. It provokes the question do we really need these sort of sites to confuse what is already confused enough? People have gotten used to living in these virtual realities and it is sometimes hard to tell the difference in what should be private and what should be public, I understand people may want to express themselves in what ever way they want to but just how much do others want to know about them. There’s no line left to cross, in my opinion reality has been broken.

Another use for the internet is websites such as youtube, 4od, BBC Iplayer and many more like them with the technology evolving over the past years we are now able to watch television programmes online, catch up on shows that we may have missed or watch a movie. We are even able to watch realtime TV online and can even comment on it as we watch through the aid of social networking. Youtube especially is one of the most popular sites used online, during 2010 the public watched more than 700 billion uploads on their site. It is another outlet for us to continue living this virtual reality.

Even with video games countless hours are spent obsessing over the next level or getting a new high score, I know my brothers dwindle their lives away playing them for hours and it shocks me how much they care about it, but it's gone beyond being just a game anymore its became another way to socialise with the likes of xbox live. It's amazing how many ways we have now of interacting with those around us.

All this technology we use has made time insignificant because we are available at all times one way or another.

A good example of how technology now surrounds generations growing up is Thomas Saurez, he is a 12 year old who already owns his own successful company “CarrotCorp” which sells mobile applications for the iOS platform, he rose to fame with his creation of “Bustin Jieber” which he describes as an “anti Justin Bieber” game similar to whac a mole. Years ago a 12 year old would never have been capable of creating this sort of technology, just goes to show you what sort of an advanced world kids are growing up in these days.

When the Ipod was released in 2001 it was a success for Apple, everyone had to have one, the design was brilliant and a new exciting way to have music on the go. Over the years the product has be redesigned so many times and is I would say the most popular in its market for music on the go.

The Ipod lets you be in two places at once, it takes you into your own imaginary world with the music your listening to whilst you still carry out mundane everyday tasks.

Apple went on to release the Ipad, which is just amazing! You have everything you need on this one handy tablet, that you can take anywhere with you easily, the design you cant fault everything runs so smooth when changing from tab to tab and is one of the best new pieces of technology I've seen so far.

Even reading online magazines on it, it’s like your reading an actual magazine, it still has the same layout, same ads but then it gives you even more interaction with it by having virtual ads in the form of videos which I think makes it more interesting and exciting to read, being able to hear the sound behind the picture grabs your attention more. I think its a more memorable experience than reading a normal paper magazine. Ipad even have the software to enable you to create your own magazine, it's called flipboard and allows you to flip through your open tabs like you would a magazine.

The way technology has moved forward over the years amazes me, it's incredible what you can do now within your everyday life. I honestly couldn’t see myself being able to live without any of it and I can only hope that future holds more exciting new creations we can learn about.